Distributing valve



y 27, 1952 J. D. ROBl NSON 2,598,605

DISTRIBUTING VALVE Filed March 22, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 /2 /08 M4 lOB /2 I //0' INVENTOR JA M55 0. Roax/vsoxv ATTORNEY y 27, 1952 J. D. ROBINSON 2,598,605

DISTRIBUTING VALVE Filed March 22, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR J4 M55 0. fi oa/lvso/v L ni- ATTORNEY May 27, 1952 J. D. ROBINSON 2,598,505

DISTRIBUTING VALVE Filed March 22, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR JAMES 0. Row/wow /0Z J]. I BY M FMMQ ATTORNEY May 27, 1952 J. D. ROBINSON 2,598,605

DISTRIBUTING VALVE Filed March 22. 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR- JAMES D. Roe/Na o/v F, F3 WWW-7 ATTORNEY Patented May 27, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISTRIBUTING VALVE James D. Robinson, Memphis, Tenn.

Application March 22, 1950, Serial No. 151,289

12 Claims.

This invention relates to rotary valves and, more particularly, to a valve for distributing liquid from an inlet to any one of a plurality of outlets.

The object of the invention is to provide a rotary valve responsive to the flow, or the pressure resulting from the flow, of liquid through it for directing liquid to certain outlets so long as the liquid flowing therethrough sustains a pre-determined volume and, when the volume drops below the critical value, to switch the flow then to a neutral or normal outlet. This arrangement was engendered .for dishwashing apparatus embodying three sinks respectively for water treated with detergent solution, clear water, and water treated with a strong germicide, such as chlorine solution. In this system water leaving the distributing valve towards the detergent sink is passed through a treating valve from which it takes off detergent concentrate. So long as the volume of flow through the treating valve exceeds a pre-determined value, the water delivered to the detergent sink has in it the correct proportion of detergent solution, but should the volume of flow through the treating valve drop below the pre-determined value, less detergent might be taken off and, consequently, the solution delivered to the sink would be too weak. The same applies to the germicidal side of the system. It is intended now to provide a three-way switch valve having an input connectable to the ordinary fresh water tap so that when the water passes through, it will be normally directed through a central or neutral outlet which, inthe system for which the valve was devised, leads to the fresh water sink. The operator may switch the valve to direct the Water to either one of the side outlets, and the valve will remain so switched so long as the water flow is sustained at the desired level. However, should the water flow drop for any reason, as by decreased pressure in the supply line, the valve will switch the flow back to the central or neutral outlet.

More specifically, it is intended by this invention to provide a rotary valve having a chamber wherein the back pressure of water flowin through is utilized to hold the valve in any one of its non-neutral positions, and wherein the reactive forces resulting from back pressure are always opposed by forces exerted by a centering mechanism tending always to return the valve to its neutral position. When the back-pressure forces become insufiicient to hold the valve in non-neutral position the centering forces be- 2 come dominant to return the valves to neutral position. It is particularly intended to render less critical the resolution of forces which tend, on the one hand, to hold the valve in nonneutral position and, on the other hand, to return it to neutral position, by the addition of a positive kick-off opposing the back pressure forces in the valve chamber so that if the valve is in a non-neutral position and the back pressure in the valve chamber drops below a critical value, the kick-off will relieve the back-pressure water directly from the valve chamber to the neutral outlet, thereby substantially eliminating the forces resulting from back pressure which tend to hold the valve in non-neutral position and, of course, allowing the centering forces overwhelmingly to dominate. In the execution of these specific objects it is intended to provide a valve chamber having three angularly spaced outlet ports and a common inlet port, and a valve rotor having a main channel which normally directs liquid from the common inlet port to the central outlet port when centered by a mechanism carried by the rotor and, ball valves in angularly spaced sockets so that the outlet ports are closed except for the one with which the main channel is in registry. In addition, it is proposed now to provide alcove passages from the main channel of the rotor to the back sides of the ball sockets so that the back pressures of water from the central channel pushes from behind on the ball valves so as to assist in the seating the ball valves closed against seats in the non-selected outlet ports, thereby not only sealing off the non-selected ports, but also preventing the centering mechanism from returning the rotor to its neutral position. It is thus apparent that a spring pressed kick-off plunger in the central or neutral outlet port operates against a ball closing that port and against the forces, including the water back pressure force, which seat the ball. Therefore, if the back pressure force drops below the critical value, the plunger will crack the ball off its seat, thereby exhausting the water under back pressure from behind the ball through the crack so as to eliminate the back pressure forces as holding factors.

Still another object is to provide a distributing valve which, of practical necessity, embodies plurality of springs, such as in a centering mechanism and in ball biases operating in opposition to volumetric forces, but to establish the criterion of the balance between volumetric and spring forces by means of single spring, or kick-01f device which can be easily and quickly replaced 3. by another of difierent strength. In the application of the distributing valve to the system for which it was devised, the maximum strength of the treated water solution in the side .tubs can be increased or decreased simply by replacing the kick-off mechanism with one having a weaker or stronger spring. It is unnecessary to open up the valve and adjust or replace the springs in the centering mechanism or thesprings which bias certain of the balls'closed.

These and other objects will be apparent in the following specification and drawings, in

which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section taken with the valve in neutral position along the linel-l of Figs. and 8;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the valve casing with the rotor, centering mechanism and top" removed;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the rotor, a rotor shaft and handle; a

Fig. 4 is abottom-plan view' showing the underside of the rotor; 4

Fig. 5 is-a horizontal section taken along: the

line 5"5" of- Fig. 1 throug-hthe-casing and rotor' looking downwardly inthedirection of the arrows; a

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section alongthe' line (i-fii of Fig. 1 looking downwardly in the:direction:of

the arrows and showing a. plan of. the centering mechanismin neutral'position;

Fig. 7 is anexploded-view showing,':in perspec tive, themoving parts: of the' centerin'g'mechanism;

Fig. 3 is' a diagrammatic cross. section; of the valve taken along the lines' B-B of Fig. 5- show ing the application of the: fOICBSL' holding; the valve in neutral or center. position;

Fig. 9 is a. view similar. to: Fig. .abutshowing the valve turnedto direct liquid through. the right-hand. non-neutraloutlet and. diagram.- matically' illustrating; the. dominating. forces tendinglto hold the'va-lve: in .noneneutralposition Fig. 10" is as. diagrammatic; plan-. View of the centeringzmechanism operatingzunder the;conditions of :Fig. 9. and tending".unsuccessfully-tomes turn .the. valve? to. the. neutral 1 position a of. Fig... 3;

. and:

Fig. 11; isaview. similar to Fig; 9=butillustrat+- ing-ntheforce conditions..prevailingz when; flow throughthe: valvei dropszbelow 'azpreedetermined critical value: and instantaneouslyaprior to:'r.e..--

turnof the valve to: the neutraliposition:of'Figs:

'1, 5-, 6-: and: 8..

General operation Referringnowto the-drawings inwhlch. like reference numerals denote similar elements, the rotary valve includes a casing 2' best" shown, in

Figs. 1,2, 5; 8, 9 and l'l. Casing 2-is formed with abaseA and a-hollow 'cylindrical chamber. shell 6 closed by atop 8 engaged in threads H1 around the upper interior of shell 6-. In the backend-of.- base l is a downwardly-facingmaininlet It. threaded at I3- for connection: with a-suitable' source of liquidysuch as the water' supply pipe of a sink. Angularly spaced about the exterior of base 4- are three outlets l4, l6-and l8 respectively. Hereinafter, outlet l6-will1be considered the neutraloutlet, while outlets-1 L and l8-will betermednon-neutral. At the top'of the valve there is ahandleZO- for rotating the mechanism described herein below. For'purposes of i-llus.-' tratingone important application of theinvention it will 'be assumed that outlet I4 is connected the volume drops below a critical volume the valve-will automatically return to its central position wherein flow re-establishes through neutraloutlet IS.

The casing Inba'se l of easing 2 there is an inlet channel 2| connecting main inlet l2 with an inlet port 22:.centrally: disposed in the upper face 29 of base t. at the-bottom of the valve chamber. Angularly disposed in base face 29. are three outlet ports 24, 26, and 28, in each of whichare disposedvalve seats 30,- preferably formed of neoprene, or similar. composition well known in the valve seat art, fiush-.mounted in seat recesses 32 OutletportsZA, ZBand. 28 respectively constitute inner. terminii of outlet-channels 34; 36

and 38. connecting them respectively with outlets M. H5 and-l8.

The rotor snugly. but rotatablyi nesting, in the lower portionof chamber shellfiis valverotor 40' detailed i'nFi'gs. 3'and4, on the upper center of which is affixed shaft 42 passing upwardly through sleeve bearing 43in casing top 8 and non-rotatably connected at H" to the inner end of handle 20.

'3 Inthe lower face of. rotor is a main channel 46" with an inner endlying over and in com"- muni'c'ation with the inletport 22 in alla'ngul'ar positions of" the valve, it being apparent that when rotor 4'01'i's positioned" centrally asin Figs. 1", 5 and 8,.main channel. 46 establishes" communication betweeniinletport. 22" and outlet port 28;. but when" turned clockwise orv counter clockwise; main channel"- 4'6 establishes communication between inletport 22 and either of outlet The centering mechanism Rotor 40; is" normally biased to-its central or neutral position; wherein channel- 46 connectsinlet andoutlet ports 22and 26 respectively, by

the"centeringzmechanism detailed in Figs. 1, 6,

land In and-indicated generally at-48-'. Centeringi mechanism consists of two identical arcu ate" centeringmembers 50* and 52; each having anarcuateouter rib*54* terminating in end faces arcuate' plate 58*having at its center'a sleeve-like boss -iill surroundingacenter ho1e'6'2. Bosses 60 serve-as'spacers'; and bearings so that the mem bers 50 and 52 rotate freely about she-n42. torquespring 64* iscontained between members 5'0; 512i normallyin'- slightly wound condition with its-ends 6'6 engaged in" holes 68in end face lit. In-Figs. 6-and*10 itisapparent thatin'a'll angular positionsofthe valve; at least one of end faces 5'6"abutsthe inner. end of an abutment screw 10 afiiicedithrou'gh the upper" portion of chamber shellTB and; further; thatlat'leastoneof end'faces iiri'always engagesthe upstanding abutment post j 11' afiiked.inthefltop.oflvalvemotorL40.. If. rotor 40 is turned" counterclockwise from the central position, centering mechanism 48 exerts a tortional force designated F4 in Figs. 9, and 11, tending always to return the rotor to its central position. This will be understood from the diagram of Fig. 10 which shows when the abutment post 12 was turned with the rotor 40 from its dotted line to its full line position, torque spring 64 was wound by the counterclockwise movement of arcuate member 52 which, of course, was driven by abutment post 12. The other centering member 50 would not follow thi movement because of the engagement of its end 56 against abutment screw 10. Accordingly there resulted a tortional force, indicated by the arrow of line F4, exerted against abutment posts 12, thereby tending to return the rotor 40 to its central position. Obviously a corresponding return torque would be exerted on rotor 40 if it were turned so as to bring main channel 46 in registry with outlet port 24. In either of the extreme nonneutral positions of the centering mechanism, the end faces 56 engageone another so as to stop the rotor with its main channel'over the selected one of outlet ports 24 or 28.

The ball valves The mechanism for sealing off the inactive outlet ports and for holding rotor 40 in nonneutral position includes, on one side of passage 46, a ball socket l4 communicating with passage 46 through an alcove passage 16. On the opposite side of channel 46 there is a similar ball socket I8 also connected with channel 46 through and alcove passage 80. In each of ball sockets l4 and I8 are compression springs 82 and 83.

Spring 82 exerts a downward force F3 on a ball 84 which is prevented from complete expulsion from its socket 14 by a capture lip 86, while spring 83 exerts a similar downward force F3 on ball 88 in socket 18, this latter ball also being held against complete expulsion by a capture.

lip 89. Capture lips 88 and 89 are active when the rotor is removed as shown in Fig. 3. Extending backwardly, as seen in Figs. 1, 8, 4, 5 and 9 from socket I4 is a further alcove passage 90, and another alcove passage 92 similarly extends back from ball socket l8. Alcove passage 90 transmits fluid under pressure to the back side of a free ball 94 sliding vertically in socket 96 while back alcove passage 92 similarly terminates in socket I00 behind free ball 98.

When the valve is in its neutral position of Figs. 1, 5 and 8, balls 84 and 88 rest in seats so as to close ports 24 and 28 in the inner ends of outlet passages 34 and 38, these balls being firmly seated by forces F2 exerted downwardly by springs 82 and 83. There is an additional force exerted downwardly on balls 84 and 88 which results from the back pressure of water flowing in the rotor 48. The stream of water flowing through inlet port 22 and main channel 46 exerts a primary force in the direction of its flow diagrammatically indicated at Fl. As this main stream of water traverses main channel 46, back pressure or reactive forces Fl are transmitted through the various alcove passages 16 and 90, on the one side, and 86 and 92 on the other side, thereby applying downward forces FI on all the balls. These balls 94 and 98 and the back pressure or reactive forces Fl do not become of particular importance until rotor is turned from its neutral position. Then, when rotor 40 is turned so as to bring main channel 46 in communication with one of the non-neutral outlets, such as through outlet port 28, ball 84 is moved over to close the central outlet port 26 while ball 94, hitherto inactive, is moved over to close outlet port 24. In the position shown in Fig. 9 the downward force F2 exerted by spring 82 on ball 84 assists in sealing the ball against its seat in outlet port 26 and, in addition, the sidewise engagement of ball 84 against its seat tends to block return movement of rotor 40 against the torque force F4 exerted by wound torque spring 64 in centering mechanism 48. However, the blocking force resulting alone from the downward force F2 of spring 82 on ball 84 would, in and of itself, be insufficient to combat the return torque force F4 exerted by wound spring 64. When there is no water flowing through the valve, rotor 40 will not stayover by itself in either of the non-neutral positions. The resulting forces which establish the overbalance sufiicient to overcome the return torqueforce F4 are from the back pressure reactive forces Fl exerted downwardly on balls 84 and 94 (Fig. 9). Thus, forces F2 plus forces Fl exerted on ball 84, plus Fl on ball 94 eiIect blocking of both balls against the sides of the seats in outlet ports 24 and 26, and so long as the volume of flow through the valve is sufficiently high to maintain primary force Fl above a predetermined value, the reactive or back pressure forces of Fl will be sufficient to block balls 92 and 94 against their seats and thus prevent return of rotor 40 to its neutral position. However, when the flow of water decreases below the desired volume, the total of the resulting back pressure forces Fl together with compression spring force F2, becomes insuflicient to block balls 84 and 94 against the thrust from return torque F4.

The kick-017 The kick-oil is provided to render less critical the selection and tensioning of torque spring 64 in centering mechanism 48 and compression springs 82 and 83 on balls 84 and 88, respectively, and also to provide for easy variation of the volume of water required to hold the valve over in either of its non-neutral positions. In a threaded recess I02 at the bottom end of outlet passage 36 engages a threaded hollow plug I04 slidably supporting an upwardly extending plunger I06 biased upwardly by a compression spring I0. Spring I08 bears against an enlargement II8 on the bottom end of plunger I06 sliding in a sleeve H2 in the upper portion of the plunger. When plunger I06 is fully extended, its upper end lies in the plane of the top of outlet port 26, but when depressed, it transmits an upward force F3 from compressed spring I08. In Fig. 11 it is apparent that when plunger I06 is extended a ball which otherwise would be seated in outlet port 26 is cracked upwardly, the force F3 of spring I08 being greater than the force F2 of spring 82, but less than the total of force F2 plus Fl resulting from the desired sufficiency of water flowing through the valve. Thus, when force F decreases the ball is cracked upwardly, most of the back pressure or reactive forces Fl are released by the flow of back water through the crack and out of the valve via port 26, outlet passage 36, and outlet l6, thereby efiectively eliminating back pressure or reactive forces Fl as factors which hitherto resulted in the blocking of balls 84 and 94, against their seats and, in turn, permitting return torque F4 of centering mechanism 48 to dominate by camming balls 84 and 94 off their seats. This removes the blocking of rotor g and ose ment or the various ports; passages and channels' riiaurpartake of various form, and: that the balancgof the forces operating-within the valve can easily be altered: by the adjustment or replacement of the various springs; particularly spring 108, or .preferably by substitution of a newfiplungen'assemblyr I114; I118, etc, so as to vary the: volume: ofi'wat'eri requiredto. hold the valve over: to: either oi its: non-neutrali positions The inventionidetailedzaboveissrio'tdirhited to the specifi'ic .apparatusand; of course, is-- adaptable to many' systemsother" than the one a for which it was described, iand iszintended to coverall modifications; substitutions-sand equivalents within thes'c'op'eofthe'following cl'aims;

I; ALrotar-y valve' comprisirig a casing defininga cylindrical chamber with a substantially" flat bottom Wall, an inlet port: centrally disposed in said common inlet. port-i and said: neutral outlet port, said-' rotor being selectively. rotatable from said neutralposition' to either'of-ifirstand: second non neutral positions in l which saidi main chem nelico'n'riects' said common inlet port. and" thei se lected: one of 7 said non-neutral outlet 'po'rts; a centering mechanism including'ispring means-op positely engaged between said rotor and'an" abut m'entinsaid casing for" exerting-2a return torqueforce on said rotor biasing: the: same from said non-neutral positions to said" neutral position, first and second-ball sockets in said rotor= angu larlyspaced-on'oppositesides of said main-chansaid. bottom wall; first, second and third outlet v port's disposed radially'" from said inlet port at equalangular intervals in said bottom wall, a rotor rbtata'b'ly disposed. in said chamber and havinga' substantially flat-bottom face engaged against the bottom- Wall of said chamber a main channelin the bottom face of said rotor extendin'g radially" from the center toward's theperiphery thereof so as to register constantly with said inlet 'port and selectively with said outlet ports, said rotor having first and second ball sockets' extending upwardly from the-bottom face -and respectively displaced on each' side of" said main channel at angular intervals corresponding to the" angular spacing betweensaid' outlet ports, and third" and fourth ball sockets extending upwardly in said'rotor'fromsai'd-bottomxface and respectively disposed at said angular intervals from" said'fir'st' and second sockets, balls in said sockets dimensioned for seatin'gengagexnent with said ports so as to'close the same upon registry therewith, said rotor'having. alcove channels connectlngsa'i'd' main channel with said ball sock ets" whereby to: transmitback pressure forces on said balls."and acentering mechanism connected between said chamber" and saidrotor normally biasingjsaidrotor to a neutralposition in which saidmain' channel registerswith said second outlet'po'rt; V r

2; The combination" claimed in claim 1; and springs in -said first'and' second sockets exerting a'downwardforce thereon.

3E Thecombinationclaimed in claim 1; and a spring pressed" plunger in said second outlet port arranged .to register withsaid common inlet port in allis rotational positions. and: having a neutral position; in" which .1 said main r chan'nel'. connects:

nel, said sockets respectively; registering. with said first and: second non-neutral outlet por ts when said: rotor is insaicl neutral position and alternately registering with said neutral out let port when said'rotor is turned-to sai'd nonr' neutral positions, third: and fourth ba-ll sockets extending. upwardly insa-id-rotor from said bot-- tom face and spacedfrom'flsaidfirstand second sockets so as to register respectively; with said. first andsecond-outlet ports when said first-and second sockets register with said neutral outlet port, ball valves in each of said sockets dimensioned'to seat in said outlet ports for closing the same upon registry therewith,. and channel means'in said rotor connecting said main channel: and said ball sockets for transmitting; fluidunder back pressure resulting i from flow of fluid in said main channel-to said-balls;- w'hereby to seat the-same tightly: in said outlet ports and for blockingisaid rotor against the return torque of i said centering mechanism.-

5. Inadevice of the type describedLa chamber "member havingan inlet and aplurality of outlets spaced from one 1 another, avalve'rnember'movably mounted in said chamber member andha-ving a-passage th'erethrough,= said-valve member being movable" from a predeterminedselected position to an alternate selected-=position whereby: to bring one end ofsaid 'passagese lectively into registry'withsaid outlets the other end of said passage being in. registry with said inlet-in all-of saidselected positions of said valve member, bias means for biasing said valve member to saidpredetermined selected :position which saidpassage registers with a certain one oisaidoutlets, holding: means engaging betweensaid chamber andvalve members and responsiveto the pressure of fiuid flowing through-said: pas-- sage for holding saidvalve member in said selected alternate positionagainst the action of said bias means.

6 Inadeviceof the type descri-bed, a-chamber member having an inlet 7 and a plurality of outlets avalve member movably disposed in said chamber member and having a passage therethrough, said passage being: inconstant registry with said inlet, said valve member being movable from, a predetermined- -selected position to an alternate selected position whereby. said passages connects said inlet selectivelyv withsaid engageable in said outlets-and responsive to --the' ressure of fluid in 7 said 'passage for closing all said outlets oth'er than the selected one" with which said passage connects and for holding said; valve in" selected: position", and: disabling. means in said: chamber 'member inversely? re'-'-- sponsives ti? said pressure foldisengaging'z said closure means from at least one of said outlets when said pressure is less than a predetermined value.

7. In a device of the type described, a chamber member having an inlet and a plurality of outlets extending externally from said chamber member, valve seats at the inner ends of said outlets, a valve member having a main passage therethrough, said valve member being movable in said chamber member from a predetermined neutral position to a plurality of alternate positions in which said main passage selectively connects said inlet with said outlets, bias means engaged between said members for exerting a bias force against said valve member to said neutral position in which said inlet is connected through said main passage to a certain one of said outlets, ball valves and sockets therefor in said valve member spaced from said main passage, said sockets being disposed with respect to said valve seats so that said ball valves close against the valve seats in the outlets other than the one with which said main passage connects, said ball valves, when closed against said valve seats being engaged between the walls of said sockets and the sides of said valve seats thereby tending to block said valve member against the bias force, and conduit means in said valve member connecting said main channel and said ball valve sockets thereby transmitting fluid under pressure from said main channel, whereby to exert closing and blocking forces against the ball valves.

8. The combination claimed in claim '7, and spring means in at least some of said ball sockets engaged between said valve member and said balls and exerting closing and blocking forces thereon.

9. The combination claimed in claim 7, and spring means in one of said outlets arranged to exert a cracking force against a ball closed thereagainst.

10. In the combination claimed in claim '7, first spring means in at least some of said ball sockets engaged between said balls and said valve member, and second spring means in one of said outlets arranged to exert a cracking force against a ball closed thereagainst, said second spring means being effectively stronger than the first.

11. A rotary valve having a hollow casing with an inlet port and at least two outlet ports respectively disposed in first and second angularly spaced positions, a rotor angularly movable in said casing and having a main channel registering in all operative positions with said inlet port and respectively registering with said outlet ports upon angular movement of said rotor between a neutral position and an alternate position whereby to establish communication between said inlet port selectively with either of said outlet ports, means for exerting a biasing force on said rotor tending to move the same angularly to said neutral position whereby to maintain the channel normally in registry with one of said outlet ports, valve means in said rotor for closing the nonselected outlet port while said main channel establishes communication between said inlet and the selected one of said outlet ports, and conduit means connecting said main channel and said valve means for exerting a closing force on the latter resulting from back pressure of flow through said main channel.

12. In a control valve including a chamber member having an inlet and a plurality of outlets, a movable valve member having a passage therein, said valve member being movable between a predetermined neutral position and plurality of alternate positions whereby to connect said inlet via said passage with selectively said outlets, the improvement which comprises, yieldable means engaged between said members and biasing said valve member towards said neutral position, valve means in one of said members operable in response to the positioning of said valve member for closing all said outlets other than the selected one, holding means responsive to the fiuid flowing through said control valve for exerting a holding force on said valve member substantially proportioned to the pressure of said fluid in said valve, and means of predetermined force in said control valve operating in opposition to said holding force for disabling said holding means upon dropping of said fluid pressure below a predetermined value.

JAMES D. ROBINSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,213,181 I Wangenheim Aug. 27, 1940 2,326,487 Overbeck Aug. 10, 1943 2,444,391 Whitefield June 29, 1948 

